Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan, Jr., announced that on March 16, 2026, Genell McInaw, 51, of Seaside Park, pled guilty before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., to Vehicular Homicide in connection with an incident that occurred in Seaside Heights on September 23, 2024, resulting in the death of Robert Popovics, 75, of Seaside Park. At the time of her sentencing on June 26, 2026, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.
On September 23, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Officers from the Seaside Heights Police Department responded to the area of Dupont Avenue and the Boulevard for a report of a male lying in the roadway. Responding Officers discovered Mr. Popovics lying unconscious in the roadway with apparent serious bodily injuries. Mr. Popovics was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of his injuries.
An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Seaside Heights Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, determined that a dark colored sedan was traveling south on the Boulevard when it struck Mr. Popovics and fled the area. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle was being operated by McInaw at the time of the crash. McInaw was taken into custody by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad at her residence without incident and initially charged with Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to Another Person.
McInaw was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where a draw of her blood was obtained pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. She was thereafter transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
On November 1, 2024, Mr. Popovics succumbed to his injuries as a result of the crash of September 23, 2024, and he was pronounced deceased at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Laboratory results of McInaw’s blood draw, received by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, revealed that McInaw’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) at the time of the blood draw was .187. A State-retained expert opined that the BAC at the time of the crash would have been approximately .21. In the State of New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where the operator’s BAC is .08 or greater.
As a consequence of Mr. Popovics succumbing to his injuries from the September 23rd crash, as well as the results of McInaw’s blood draw, the charges against McInaw were upgraded to Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, and Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Death. On November 4, 2024, McInaw surrendered herself to Seaside Heights Police Headquarters in the presence of her attorney. She was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
First Assistant Prosecutor Nolan acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Seaside Heights Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.